nescius wrote:A lot of things really come down to personal preference, something that I think is great may only be ok for someone else. Having said that, if I was you (and I had plenty of cash to spend) this is what I would buy:

I never said I had plently of money... I just like to do things properly as opposed to buying something and upgrading a few months later...

nescius wrote:Shoes: go for some with a nice stiff carbon sole - I have the specialized s-works road shoes (I think they were about $400)

Would love to but way out of my budget

nescius wrote:Bib shorts: I pretty much only wear castelli free aero race bibshorts, usually about $150 from wiggle

I have seen that brand at a number of places so it looks like they are the way to go...

nescius wrote:Jerseys: Get one with deep pockets, I hate jerseys with shallow pockets that you can't fit stuff into. I like TwinSix.

They look cool and not too expensive... a lot of them are out of stock though

nescius wrote:Computer: Get the garmin, I bought my girlfriend a 310xt for her triathlons and she said it was great

I think this will have to wait til the xmas list..

nescius wrote:TT bars: If you are doing a half ironman then you will want some TT bars to get you into that aerodynamic position, I think profile are ok, I can't remember what mine are

On the list but will not be 2013 as I need to get the k's up before even considering getting TT bars

The LBS are hooking me up with a tube and tools.. the other things sound really confusing...

nescius wrote:Maintenance: Chain lube (I use pro-link gold, but chain lube can be a very personal thing so use whatever you like). I would also recommend that you learn how the bike works, buy a book like Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance

These will be on the xmas list...

nescius wrote:And if you are really serious...Race Wheels: Triathletes love deep rims, get some race wheels (Zipp 808s or any other deep carbon rims, Cycling Express have a special on wheels at the moment, $999 for Reynolds Assault wheelset looks ok)

I am serious but I just spent over $2k on a bike, there is no way I can afford more wheles.. 2 is enough

nescius wrote:Aero Helmet: There are only a couple that have the aus standads sticker, specialized and something else (can't remember which), you will go faster (or at least look more pro, as long as you don't wear it backwards)

This will be one that will be on the long list... not sure if I will be that professional by Busselton.. maybe if I go on to do the full Ironman...

nescius wrote:TriSuit: I'm not actually a triathlete so I can't comment on which are the best, but triathlon specific clothes are best for racing

nescius wrote:*note: I tend to err on the side of higher end gear, and it has worked out well for me, but be warned that once you have sampled the good stuff you are unlikely to settle for second best... this can be expensive There are plenty of cheaper options available that will do just as good a job, but if you get this stuff you will fit in with the crowd

I tend to err here too if I can afford it I am trying to put my $ towards kit this I will use more and get value out of...

If you can afford it, I would really recommend getting some TT bars for Busso, they make a massive difference to your speed. I think most people would easily be 2km/h faster with no extra effort, and that's probably 15 minutes or so off your bike leg, just make sure you get someone to help you with the setup so you are comfortable (local tri club?).

Another word of warning, all of the triathletes I know started out like you (sensible, thinking carefully about what they need etc) but they all turned into high end gear fetishists. It can be addictive, and you can end up spending big money! Cycling is bad enough, I'm at the stage where I think spending nearly $10,000 on a bike is ok, but triathletes take it to a whole new level

Have fun!

Also, don't worry too much about the extra tools until you get a copy of Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, then you will know what they are and what they are for. Learning to fix and maintain your own bike is a liberating experience, you don't want to have to go running to the LBS every time your derailleur needs adjusting

Maybe some of this stuff?Jersey $95Knicks $119.95We've just switched to SCODY and production started this week. Every jersey gets a free BikePure wristband till 2013. Depending on Knicks sales, we'll be upgrading to Bibs shortly.Shameless plug to derail a perfectly good thread

Last edited by The 2nd Womble on Sat Sep 22, 2012 12:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

My 2 cents. To improve your cycling the accessories you NEED are:- clipless shoes and pedals- A bicycle computer with a cadence sensor

These two devices will increase your pedaling efficiency and get you into good biomechanical habits.

Once you start cycling long distances you will NEED knicks. I switched to bib knicks back in 2007 and won't buy anything else.You definitely NEED a puncture kit and you NEED to learn how to change a tube by the side of the road.

Re : Gloves. They are nice. In ye olden days I'd get huge blisters on my palms near the base of my thumb, but modern day shifter hoods may be made of softer rubber (and the ergonomics are slightly different) so you might be able to do without gloves for a while.

Re : floor pump. It's nice but its not a necessity. I lived without one for decades. If you buy a good metal full-length rack pump (i.e. a Zefal HPX) you can still get high enough pressures and can live without a floor pump.

Re : Garmin. You don't need it. I've been using the Strava App on my iPhone all year and its good enough. The only problem is on a 3GS phone the battery dies after 3+ hours so for long rides you'll have to turn it off for some segments.

If you can afford it, I would really recommend getting some TT bars for Busso, they make a massive difference to your speed. I think most people would easily be 2km/h faster wit no extra effort, and that's probably 15 minutes or so off your bike leg, just make sure you get someone to help you with the setup so you are comfortable (local tri club?).

I will definetly be getting TT bars but it will be after Xmas once I get some Kms under my belt and start doing some decent length rides

nescius wrote:Another word of warning, all of the triathletes I know started out like you (sensible, thinking carefully about what they need etc) but they all turned into high end gear fetishists. It can be addictive, and you can end up spending big money! Cycling is bad enough, I'm at the stage where I think spending nearly $10,000 on a bike is ok, but triathletes take it to a whole new level

Have fun!

Also, don't worry too much about the extra tools until you get a copy of Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, then you will know what they are and what they are for. Learning to fix and maintain your own bike is a liberating experience, you don't want to have to go running to the LBS every time your derailleur needs adjusting

I have already started buying stuff I'm not sure ill need on ebay so I'm no doubt ill be a crazy triathlon high-end gear purchaser but hopefully the fact I'm trying to save for a house will slow me down...

I might see if I can download that book as opposed to waiting for Xmas

Thank you for your two cents. I'm definetly getting clipless shoes. I've eyed a pair at $99 but I'm tempted to spend a little more if its worth it. Not sure what a cadence sensor is but ill google it now

__PG__ wrote:Once you start cycling long distances you will NEED knicks. I switched to bib knicks back in 2007 and won't buy anything else.You definitely NEED a puncture kit and you NEED to learn how to change a tube by the side of the road.

Bibs are in transit from probikekit (Just hope they are the right size :p) I've replaced tyres years ago on mbk's so I hope it won't be too different.

__PG__ wrote:Re : floor pump. It's nice but its not a necessity. I lived without one for decades. If you buy a good metal full-length rack pump (i.e. a Zefal HPX) you can still get high enough pressures and can live without a floor pump.

saw one for $50 so that's not too bad...

__PG__ wrote:Re : Garmin. You don't need it. I've been using the Strava App on my iPhone all year and its good enough. The only problem is on a 3GS phone the battery dies after 3+ hours so for long rides you'll have to turn it off for some segments.

I agree. Computer and iPhone will do me til I can afford the garmin 910

Re: punctures - road bikes/tyres seem to get a lot more punctures than mtb, but it's no big deal to learn how to fix them. And one you do, getting a puncture is just a minor annoyance (unless you're running late/in a race). You can learn how to on YouTube.

Regarding downloading the book - again, just consult YouTube for any bike maintenance procedures (watch a few videos, as some people have different ways to do things). Or read forums/websites. Personally, I've learnt how to fix punctures, adjust brakes, adjust shifting/rear derailuer, adjust spoke tension. Granted, none of these things are terribly complicated, but the availability of bike fixing knowledge via Google/YouTube does make me wonder about why some people still go to their LBS for the simple stuff.

BTW: A cheap cycle computer is only $25, and is handy to have, even with a Garmin. (I use an A8 VDO, and my sister's Forerunner 610 for heartrate/GPS map). A bell? Moon make bright, USB rechargable rear lights, which attach with a rubber strap (Moon Shield). Front light I use a cheapo Moon blinker and Deal eXtreme torch. $30 for 900 (claimed) lumens. Though my new DX torch has gone dim (after a few drops), so you do get what you pay for (big bang for buck/tech, but low QC).

Rex Chan wrote:Regarding downloading the book - again, just consult YouTube for any bike maintenance procedures (watch a few videos, as some people have different ways to do things). Or read forums/websites. Personally, I've learnt how to fix punctures, adjust brakes, adjust shifting/rear derailuer, adjust spoke tension. Granted, none of these things are terribly complicated, but the availability of bike fixing knowledge via Google/YouTube does make me wonder about why some people still go to their LBS for the simple stuff.

I have a question about the ay-ups... is it $275 for just the front lights?

What are the recommended alternatives?

Yes, $275 will get you the V-Twin sports kit which only contains one set of lights (along with battery, mounting systems, charger, etc.)

I think a lot of people just buy some LED lights from somewhere like DealExtreme, sorry I don't know which ones are worth buying though.

I have this one. 2 winters now. no problems. it's one of the heavier ones around but i do get about 5 hours on high out of it (I only run it on high when conditions are really bad). note the batteries are very well protected in that case. much better than the heat-shrunk cases.

so for $275 i can buy 3.5 sets of my lights. or 1 set of my lights and 6 spare battery packs

I made a switch to Ayups (extra 40%, moderate beam) about two months ago after a year on the 'magicshine' P7 lights. Yes theyre a much nicer solid well built unit. Though I don't believe theyre worth the $275 I paid and I also preferred the light throw of my cheapo P7s. If it wasn't for my k-edge garmin mount, I'd probably mount two Ayups (moderate + narrow).

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